Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon addressed reporters ahead of an emergency session of the Security Council Tuesday on the situation in Gaza.

“Over the past month, Israel had to defend itself from the violent rioters along the security fence with Gaza. The rioters have thrown Molotov cocktails, planted explosive devices, and rolled burning tires. They have sent flaming materials over the fence and into Israel, spreading deadly fires across our fields. And they have tried, on multiple occasions, to break down the fence and infiltrate Israeli territory,” Ambassador Danon said.

Presenting a photograph of the Kerem Shalom crossing, usually used for humanitarian aid and had been burned by the rioters, Ambassador Danon said, “Had the rioters broken down the fence and infiltrated Israel, there can be no doubt that the damage to Israeli towns and villages would have looked like this.”

“Hamas has committed war crimes not only against Israeli civilians but also against its own people – turning them into human shields for their own cynical gain. Every casualty that has resulted from the recent violence is a victim of Hamas’ war crimes,” Ambassador Danon continued.

Regarding the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem, Ambassador Danon noted that “everyone who claims that the US embassy move is to blame for Palestinian violence needs to look at the facts. The embassy is just the latest in the series of Palestinian excuses for violence against Israel.”